Karl Bastian
Encyclopedia
Karl Bastian was a Hauptsturmführer
(Captain) in the Waffen SS during World War II
. He was a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross
, which was awarded to recognize outstanding battlefield bravery or successful military leadership by Nazi Germany
during World War II
.
on the Rheinland. After finishing elementary school he volunteered to join the SS-VT in October 1936. He was assigned to the 5th Company, 2nd SS Totenkopf Infantry Regiment.
and the campaign in the Balkans
, (Operation Marita).
By April 1944 he had been promoted to Hauptsturmführer
and was the commander of the II.Battalion, 21 SS Panzergrenadier Regiment, 10th SS Panzer Division Frundsberg.
In June 1944, they were serving on the Western Front
in Normandy
in the Caen
area. In an attempt to improve their own front line a company attack was ordered on a small hamlet in July. On the night on the 22 July Hauptsturmführer
Bastian joined his men in the attack using hand grenades to clear houses and bunkers they engaged the defenders in hand to hand combat. The attack was successful and 67 prisoners were taken and maps and other documents captured, which they used to improve their own positions around Hill 112
.
Karl Bastian was killed in action shortly after during fighting in the Cui
region on the 11 August 1944.
For his leadership and bravery during the attack Karl Bastian was awarded a posthumous Knight's Cross.
Hauptsturmführer
Hauptsturmführer was a Nazi rank of the SS which was used between the years of 1934 and 1945. The rank of Hauptsturmführer was a mid-grade company level officer and was the equivalent of a Captain in the German Army and also the equivalent of captain in foreign armies...
(Captain) in the Waffen SS during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. He was a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross
Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross
The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross was a grade of the 1939 version of the 1813 created Iron Cross . The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross was the highest award of Germany to recognize extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership during World War II...
, which was awarded to recognize outstanding battlefield bravery or successful military leadership by Nazi Germany
Nazi Germany
Nazi Germany , also known as the Third Reich , but officially called German Reich from 1933 to 1943 and Greater German Reich from 26 June 1943 onward, is the name commonly used to refer to the state of Germany from 1933 to 1945, when it was a totalitarian dictatorship ruled by...
during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
.
Early life
Karl Bastian was born on the 12 February 1915 in OberhausenOberhausen
Oberhausen is a city on the river Emscher in the Ruhr Area, Germany, located between Duisburg and Essen . The city hosts the International Short Film Festival Oberhausen and its Gasometer Oberhausen is an anchor point of the European Route of Industrial Heritage. It is also well known for the...
on the Rheinland. After finishing elementary school he volunteered to join the SS-VT in October 1936. He was assigned to the 5th Company, 2nd SS Totenkopf Infantry Regiment.
World War II
At the start of World War II he was still serving with the 2nd SS Totenkopf and took part in the Battle of FranceBattle of France
In the Second World War, the Battle of France was the German invasion of France and the Low Countries, beginning on 10 May 1940, which ended the Phoney War. The battle consisted of two main operations. In the first, Fall Gelb , German armoured units pushed through the Ardennes, to cut off and...
and the campaign in the Balkans
Balkans
The Balkans is a geopolitical and cultural region of southeastern Europe...
, (Operation Marita).
By April 1944 he had been promoted to Hauptsturmführer
Hauptsturmführer
Hauptsturmführer was a Nazi rank of the SS which was used between the years of 1934 and 1945. The rank of Hauptsturmführer was a mid-grade company level officer and was the equivalent of a Captain in the German Army and also the equivalent of captain in foreign armies...
and was the commander of the II.Battalion, 21 SS Panzergrenadier Regiment, 10th SS Panzer Division Frundsberg.
In June 1944, they were serving on the Western Front
Western Front (World War II)
The Western Front of the European Theatre of World War II encompassed, Denmark, Norway, Luxembourg, Belgium, the Netherlands, France, and West Germany. The Western Front was marked by two phases of large-scale ground combat operations...
in Normandy
Normandy
Normandy is a geographical region corresponding to the former Duchy of Normandy. It is in France.The continental territory covers 30,627 km² and forms the preponderant part of Normandy and roughly 5% of the territory of France. It is divided for administrative purposes into two régions:...
in the Caen
Caen
Caen is a commune in northwestern France. It is the prefecture of the Calvados department and the capital of the Basse-Normandie region. It is located inland from the English Channel....
area. In an attempt to improve their own front line a company attack was ordered on a small hamlet in July. On the night on the 22 July Hauptsturmführer
Hauptsturmführer
Hauptsturmführer was a Nazi rank of the SS which was used between the years of 1934 and 1945. The rank of Hauptsturmführer was a mid-grade company level officer and was the equivalent of a Captain in the German Army and also the equivalent of captain in foreign armies...
Bastian joined his men in the attack using hand grenades to clear houses and bunkers they engaged the defenders in hand to hand combat. The attack was successful and 67 prisoners were taken and maps and other documents captured, which they used to improve their own positions around Hill 112
Hill 112
Operation Jupiter was an attack launched by the British Second Army's VIII Corps on 10 July 1944. The objective of the attack was to capture the villages of Baron-sur-Odon, Fontaine-Étoupefour, Chateau de Fontaine and recapture Hill 112. Following the capture of these objectives the Corps would...
.
Karl Bastian was killed in action shortly after during fighting in the Cui
Cui
-People:* Cui, Chinese surname.* César Cui , a Russian composer* Jorge "Cui" Cuello, British historian Oxford University, 1995 Pulitzer Prize winner-Other uses:* Cui , a Peruvian term for the guinea pig, when used as food...
region on the 11 August 1944.
For his leadership and bravery during the attack Karl Bastian was awarded a posthumous Knight's Cross.